Melvin Merrill Campbell

Bishop Melvin Merrill Campbell, passed away on October 31, 2026 at the age of 99. Born January 8, 1927 to the late Ed Campbell and the late Florence Couch Campbell.

Merrill leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond his family - one built through his lifetime of hard work, service, and dedication. From working in the coal mine to serving his country in the Army during World War ll, then moved into construction. It was through this work that he found his calling in ministry, serving the Lord for over 60 years. Throughout his ministry, he pastored multiple churches, often building them from the ground up leaving his mark on each one. Merrill was an avid fisherman; he could tell what kind of fish had bit his hook long before he reeled it in. When he wasn’t at the lake you could find him working in his garden, growing beans, corn, tomatoes, and his beloved Asian pear trees. It’s through the telling of his stories that we will carry his legacy on.

Merrill was preceded in death by his first wife, the late Geraldine Campbell and his second wife, the late Loretta Creech Campbell. He was a brother to Earnest, Pearl Brown, Charlie, Paul, Tom, Margaret, Billie Faye, and Johnnie. He was also a proud father to Anita and Marietta Campbell, Roger Dale (Donna) Campbell, Barbara (Herbert) Spencer, Marc (Mary) Campbell, and Jeff (Sharie) Campbell, as well as a stepfather to Yvonne (Joe) Steeley, Roger (Mary Anne) Creech, Jack (Linda) Creech, and Karen (Jerry) McIntyre. His love for his family continued through the generations. He was a cherished Papaw to Amanda Joy (Jeff) Land, Michelle (William) Lykins, Jennifer Baker, Jonathan (Susan) Campbell, Rebecca (Tim) Holbrook, Brandon (Leah) Campbell, Laura (Richard) Elsey, Leandra Campbell, and Dr. Emily Campbell; Great-Papaw to Katie, Makenzie, Alanna, Caitlyn, Audrey, Lizzie, Zach, Lorelai, Wyatt, Norah, Spencer, Henry, Sawyer, Lola, and baby Elsey on the way; and a Great-Great-Papaw to Riley. He is also remembered by a host of nieces and nephews, step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren and step-great-great grandchildren and the many friends he made along the way.

Visitation for Melvin Merrill Campbell will be held on Saturday – November 7, 2026 at the Engle-Bowling Funeral Home from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. Funeral Services will be conducted on Saturday – November 7, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at the Engle-Bowling Funeral Home with Marc Campbell and Roger Campbell officiating. The Interment will follow in the Camp Nelson Cemetery located in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

In Lieu of flowers donate to Smoky Mountain Home for Children 449 McCarn Circle, Sevierville, TN 37862